Page 29 of Love Hazard

The sound of wolves howling filled the air. August cursedunder his breath. “Yeah, well, that checks out, doesn’t it? Why not add wolvesto the mix of hell from nature?”

“Shh.” I clapped a hand over his mouth. “They’ll hear you.And I can’t run faster than you.”

August slammed my hand away. “That was actuallyan option for you? Letting me die?”

I winced. “I mean, as long as it’s not me.”

“You’re impossible.”

“And you’re just—” My mouth dropped open. “Don’t move.”

He froze. “Those are not safe words in a safe sentence.”

“Just…” My eyes were wide as I took in the situation. “It’snot a big deal, just stay very still while I think.”

“Think about what? What thoughts? What’s going on?” hehissed between his teeth. “Hazel?”

“It’s going to be fine.” I said it like it was true whilepanic ensued.

ChapterEleven

“When all else fails, pivot.”—Hazel Titus

August

“Are you allergic to any sort of insect?” Hazel asked slowlyas she pulled her hand away from the tree and stared me down. “You know, likemurder hornets or something crazy like that?”

“Those exist?” I asked, my voice cracking while stilllooking behind her and wondering if I had to find a machete because of the bearor just roll around in the sand to repel insects.

“No. I mean, yes, but we don’t have any here right now. Itwas just a general question after the whole don’t-move thing.”

“Bees.” My dark, hushed tone wasn’t making me feel better.If anything, it was like I already knew. “I’m allergic to bees, the honeyones.”

“Oh.” She perked up like she’d just gotten a shot ofadrenaline and clapped her hands in front of her. “Good. Because I think it’sjust a really big hornets’ nest, but it’s scary closeto your head, and they just started moving a lot. I think if we move a lot withthem, then they’ll move more, so maybe we very slowly climb up past them. Orjust take our chances with the bear.”

“How many hornets?” I ground my teeth.

“A lot.” The buzzing picked up near my right ear. I noddedand slowly started moving toward her. The tree bark was rough against my palm.We could easily go up past the hornets’ nest and wait for the bear to leave, orwe could just make a run for it toward the water and hope it would scare thebear and not make him or her chase us.

I held out my hand. “I think we flee the crime scene andforget about our healthy foraging and firewood.”

She reached for me but stared behind me at the hornets’ nestas rustling sounded behind her. “Oh, crap.”

I tugged her next to me, and we started running back aroundthe campsite and onto the beach, only to see the bear blocking the path weneeded to take.

“Yup, that is definitely a bear,” she shrieked while thesmall brown bear looked at us, then continued rummaging through our tent. “Backaway. Slowly.”

“The Jeep,” I said through clenched teeth. “Back slowly awayand get in the Jeep.”

“Keys?”

“Unlocked,” I whispered. “In three, two, one.” We bothscrambled into the back seat while I threw my body over and locked the doors.

The bear didn’t even seem to care.

“He’s so tame,” Hazel whispered, only to have the bear standup on his legs and roar into the sky. “Kidding. I offended him. Sorry, bear.He’s terrifying. He’s going to kill us. We’re going to die in here, aren’t we?”

I pulled her against me. “No, he’ll get tired. Smell morefood. We just have to hold out longer than the bear.”

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